International Relations & Diplomacy
Dialogue today, stability tomorrow
The Working Group International Relations & Diplomacy, focusing on diplomacy and global governance, examines bilateral and multilateral relations, geopolitical shifts, and the role of international organisations. It analyses diplomatic strategies, negotiation frameworks, and the influence of soft power. Monthly briefings present academic research on strengthening diplomatic engagement, enhancing global stability, and addressing emerging foreign policy challenges.
China’s Reactions to US Belligerence under Trump
How has China responded to recent U.S. actions in Greenland, Venezuela, and Iran? This article argues that rather than expanding through coercion, China has sought to project itself as a defender of diplomacy and peace, despite the opportunities created by global instability.
Surviving the Spring
Show moreShow lessMain question: How did Egypt’s regime survive the 2011 uprising and re-emerge stronger? Argument: It did so through “compound authoritarianism” — the interaction of institutional entrenchment (military control), economic co-optation (rentier dynamics), and calibrated repression.…
Art of Diplomacy
In an interview with EPIS, Ambassador Wolfgang Petritsch reflected on his diplomatic career, conflict negotiation, and the decline of multilateralism. He stressed engaging non-state actors for peace, the vital role of middle powers, and the need for patience, empathy, and human rights in diplomacy.
India Between Two Tables
India uses multi-alignment diplomacy to strengthen strategic autonomy, balancing partnerships such as BRICS and the Quad while maintaining foreign policy flexibility.
The ‘Emergency Government’: Kast’s First 100 Days
Kast has advanced his agenda rapidly, but early setbacks and cabinet reshuffles suggest that governing through a constant sense of emergency may be difficult to sustain.
Plaid Cymru, SNP, and the Cracking Union
The UK elections renewed debate over independence as Plaid Cymru advanced in Wales and the SNP strengthened its position in Scotland, keeping constitutional questions in focus.
Somali State Building and Sub-State Actors
This article examines how Somali leaders Ahmed Madobe and Saeed Abdullahi Deni use political competition to strengthen their influence while remaining constrained by external support and institutional limits.
Lessons from the Black Sea Forum
Interview with former German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer on Ukraine’s resilience, Europe’s responsibility, and why political will and civic engagement remain essential for lasting peace.
Dependency Theory
Main Question: Why do some countries remain economically dependent despite participating in the global economy and attracting foreign investment? Argument: Dependency Theory argues that the benefits of international economic integration are distributed unevenly, with core economies often benefiti…
Making Geopolitics Accessible
How can geopolitics remain accessible in an age of shrinking attention spans? Andreas Grassl discusses trust, short-form content, polarization, and the changing future of political communication.
The Paradox of Power
The U.S. remains unmatched in military reach, yet sustaining prolonged conflict increasingly depends on fragile supply chains, industrial capacity, and critical materials shaped by China.
The Arab Springs in Yemen : A stolen revolution
This article examines how external intervention in the Yemeni revolution contributed to one of the most severe humanitarian crises of our time. By prioritizing foreign interests over those of the local population, the Gulf Cooperation Initiative neglected the urgent needs of Yemeni society, drivi…
Fault Lines Eastward
The article argues that the Iranian War has reshaped Eurasian logistics, increasing the strategic importance of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan while creating new partnership opportunities for Western countries.
What Post-Brexit Britain Can Learn From the Past
Britain’s strategy has long relied on alliances, balancing Europe, and deterring Russia. Today, sustaining that approach requires adapting to new global realities and rebuilding domestic strength.
Beyond the Pitch
When FIFA awarded the 2026 World Cup to a joint bid from the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the decision was widely celebrated as a testament to North American cooperation. The tournament would be the largest in football history, spanning three countries, sixteen host cities, and millions of …
Limited Statehood
Limited Statehood: How Armed Groups Fill Governance Gaps in Sub-Saharan Africa When state authority is weak or absent, armed groups may seize the opportunity not only to fight national authorities, but also to create rules, tax civilians, regulate behaviour, impose their own concept of justice, a…
Saudi Arabia and the Abraham Accords
HeadlineSaudi Arabia and Israel: A Complicated Route Toward Normalisation AuthorsJoseph Ayinla & Marcel Lesik Working GroupMENA Overall SummarySaudi Arabia’s approach to Israel reflects its broader ambition to become a leading regional and global power, using normalisation as leverage for US secu…
Democratic backsliding in Latin America
Democratic backsliding in Latin America: erosion from within and the case of Argentina In modern politics, Latin America has often served as a perfect real-world laboratory for studying major political changes. The “Third Wave” of democratization, which swept the region during the late twentieth …
Terrorism Spillover in the Sahel
Terrorism spillover is driven by cross-border mobility, recruitment, and local grievances. Ghana demonstrates how resilient institutions and community trust can reduce the risk of extremist expansion despite its proximity to the Sahel.
United States and China Strategic Competition
Main Question: Does China’s rise threaten North American security and economic interests? Argument: Military modernization, supply chain competition, and coordinated political interference across Canada and the US exploit Western vulnerabilities while Mexico’s institutional isolation compounds re…
